Jordan and Hood Receive National Cotton Council Honors
February 19, 2023 Dr. Andy Jordan and the late Kenneth Hood were honored as recipients of the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) highest awards during the organization’s 2023 annual meeting in Dallas, TX.
Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award
Jordan, a long-time employee in the NCC Technical Services Department who now works as an agricultural engineering consultant, received the 2022 Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award.
The award, named for the late California industry leader and past NCC President Harry S. Baker, is presented annually to a deserving individual who has provided extraordinary service, leadership and dedication to the U.S. cotton industry.
Outgoing NCC Chairman Ted Schneider (left) presents the Harry S. Baker Award to Dr. Andrew Jordan. (Photo: NCC)
In presenting the award, outgoing NCC Chairman Ted Schneider said Jordan served 31 years in the Council’s Technical Services department, first as manager of Marketing and Processing Technology before being named as the department’s director and later its vice president.
Schneider said that while serving in these positions, “Dr. Jordan provided exceptional leadership in managing a diversity of technical issues affecting the industry,” said Schneider. “Much of his success resulted from his skillful direction of a Council staff that included professional experts in safety and health environmental sciences, engineering, textile processing, plant physiology/agronomy and plant breeding.”
During his time at the NCC, Jordan also served as executive director for The Cotton Foundation where he directed program development, fund raising from the private sector, and administering Foundation research and education programs valued at more than $1.5 million annually.
Today, Jordan is an advisor to Cotton Council International, Cotton Incorporated, and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, working with agricultural research scientists, conservation groups, and food and trade organizations to develop sustainability metrics for agriculture.
Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award
Kenneth Hood (Photo: Jim Steadman)
Hood, a former National Cotton Council vice president, treasurer, vice chairman and chairman, received the Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022, which was presented to Hood’s daughter, Lou Ann Petro.
The annual award, established in 1997, is named for Oscar Johnston, whose vision, genius and tireless efforts were foremost in the shaping and organization of the NCC. The award is presented to an individual who served the cotton industry, through the NCC, over a significant period of his or her active business career. The award also recognizes those who exerted a positive influence on the industry and who demonstrated character and integrity as well as perseverance and maturation during that service.
Hood, a Mississippi native and Mississippi State University graduate, was active in local, state, and national cotton organizations. He served on numerous NCC committees and chaired multiple committees and continued serving as an advisor to the NCC until his death in 2022.
A former Delta Council president and chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s cotton committee, he also played a key role in Mississippi’s boll weevil eradication effort.
Hood was a partner in Perthshire Farms in Gunnison, MS. He also was founder and board chairman of InTime, Inc., a precision agriculture consulting firm, was president of Hood Gin Company and Hood Equipment Company, and was a Board member of Staplcotn.
Schneider said Hood had a positive influence on his producer peers through his willingness to embrace cutting edge technology.
“Kenneth’s willingness to adopt new technology was unmatched as was his eagerness to work with researchers on projects aimed at improving farming efficiency,” he said. “He inspired others to do the same.”
Hood was also an active leader in ginner organizations, serving as a former president of the National Cotton Ginners Association and the Southern Cotton Ginners Association.
A recipient of the NCC’s Harry S. Baker Award in 2008, Hood was honored over the years with many awards, among them Cotton Grower Magazine’s Cotton Achievement Award, Cotton Farming Magazine’s Farmer of the Year, Progressive Farmer Magazine’s Man of the Year in Service to Mississippi Agriculture, Farm Progress’ High Cotton Award, Delta Council’s Outstanding Conservation Farmer, Delta Business Journal’s Ag Profile Leadership Award, and the New York Cotton Exchange Cotton Marketer of the Year. He also was ginner of the year for both the Southern Cotton Ginners Association and the National Cotton Ginners Association and was recently selected to Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame’s 2022 class.
“Despite these many accolades,” Schneider said, “Kenneth remained humble and was always willing to give of his time whether it was for neighboring producers and researchers or association staffers and journalists. He was an energetic and innovative producer and ginner as well as a tireless servant and leader.”
Based on information provided by the National Cotton Council
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